Day 35, 36: Madison Dreaming

***FYI... Today marks the first entry where the bulk of the narrative will be carried on my other blog... www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/sloride ***

So... I'm in Freeport, IL at a coffeeshop wondering just how my predictions for the yesterday and today were so off. Should I even bother trying to get to Madison tonight? Yesterday I fell 20 miles short of my target.... and if I plan to stay on traget today, I will be riding non stop until sundown... I need to develop a better system of planning.

Day 35:

I left Chicago and caught the train to Elmhurst where Mr Konrad and I worked out a route to Rockford. But due to a few delays due to flooding in the region, I was unable to get all the way to Rockford, and stopped for the night in Clare, IL... I stayed with the Saris Family, who were cooler than cool. They had recently done a Boy Scout trip to Philmont and I told them about my "Seabase Adventure." It's a pretty good day of riding. The trails were a little crowded, but not terrible.

Sidenote... There's an acoustic Matchbox 20 song on the radio at this coffee shop, and Benedict has always sworn that song is actually good in its acoustic form... I gotta say that its MUCH better than I expected it to be. Not sure it'd make it onto my ipod... but still better than expected.

Day 36:

I had a hard time waking up this morning because of all the condensation that collected under my rain-fly. It drips from above and thoroughly soaks me every time I jostle the tent even slightly. I eventually get packed up and have breakfast with the Saris family. Such a cool family; they have tons of cats and chickens running about, and the eggs we eat are actually fresh. Today was the first day of school for all of the kids and they seemed to be surprisingly OK with it. We talked for a while over breakfast, but I didn't want to overstay my welcome, so took off about 8am.

Heading West, there is a ridiculously black wall of clouds that hang over the horizon, not unlike the thick clouds that sat stationary over Mordor. It is not looking good.... I head straight into the mess, not unlike Frodo with his ring of power. (Why do I remember all of this.... I didn't even like those movies that much).

It rains. And gets very windy.... the sky has the craziest textures to it. I hear a siren and start to worry about Twisters. I take shelter in side a barn with some mechanic for a few minutes, and then 15 minutes later take shelter under a church overhang. Its days like this that make me wish I was back in Brooklyn making music. I'm wet and riding into intense headwinds. Huh... I really miss writing music.

I roll into Freeport, IL and find Higher Ground coffee shop, and that kinda fills you in to where I am at now. I am planning on continuing up north into Wisconsin, but the trail that is supposed to take me all the way into Madison is supposedly closed down due to the rain.... I'm thinking of trying to ride it anyways, and just maybe it will be dry enough to get through.... but I have a hunch this could end in disaster.

I'm a little stressed today... Although i was thinking about it, and I feel as if I am starting to loosen up around other people (strangers). Instead of just saying the generic, and pleasant response, I am actually starting to let my personality out to people I don't know. It doesn't sound like a big change, but you gotta trust me... it is kinda monumental. I think it represents a seismic shift in how I relate to others. I'm no longer keeping everyone at arms length, but rather... I am actually interacting with people, rather than just meeting them. I think it also represents that i'm becoming more comfortable with myself... Maybe?

I am sooo looking forward to Madison, WI... There's no way it could be as nice as I am picturing... but i bet its cool nonetheless... I just need to find a place to stay... Warmshowers.org, don't fail me now.

I'm taking a day off in Madison, hopefully.... so I'll write a GREAT entry tomorrow maybe. Today I need to get back on the road.

- Steve